Electrical contact socket



Nov. 4, 1941. v vc. F. MacCART HY 7 2,261,170

ELECTRICAL CONTACT SOCKET I f Filed April 26 1940 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

. Patented Nov. 4, 1941 OFFICE 2,261,170 ELECTRICAL coN'rAc'r socxn'rCharles F. MacCarthy. Salem, Masa, assignor to Hygrade SylvaniaCorporation,

V Massachusetts a corporation Application April 26, 1940, Serial No.331,193 (01.113-328) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a socket for an electrical device having abase with two contact pins extending the efrom used in the startingapparatill]: oi electriczgaseous discharge lamps, and the l e.

An object of the invention is to provide a socket which gives adistinctly positive action.

Another object is the securing of abroad contact surfaces A furtherobject is the centering in the socket of the base of an electricaldevice so that the rotating axis of the base of an electrical device isconcentric with the insulating material. The structure of the socket issuch that it is much easier to manufacture, than prior sockets.

The socket comprises four pieces of insulating material, for examplefiber, joined together by eyelets, rivets, or some similar means, twopieces of resilient wires, two pigtails and such other materials as areenumerated in the specifications, taken in conjunction with the drawingin which: I

Figure 1 is a top view of the second layer. Figure 2 is a top view ofthe third layer. Figure 3 is a top view of the top layer. Figure 4 is aside view been assembled.

Figure 5 is a top view of the bottom layer. In Figure 1, the insulatingmaterial, for example fiber is stamped or punched in such a I2 and. I3by soldering, welding, or some similar bonding method.

The contour of the resilient wires l2 and I3 is such that the wiresprovides. positive locking device when they are recessed in the cut-outs21 and 28. The cut-outs 21 and 28 herein described are so formed as toprovide for enough expansion on the part of the wires l2 and I3 to allowfor the insertion therebetween of the contact pins of the base of anelectrical device and for the movement of these pins into their lockingpositions. On the other hand, the cut-outs are not so large that theywill obviate the securing of a positive locking action after the base ofan electrical device has been rotated to the desired position.

In Figure- 2, when the contact pins of the socketare inserted in thecutouts 21 and 28,

of the socket after it has a manner as to provide the holes 2, 3, I, and5 and the cut-outs 6 and 1. These cut-outs and holes are so shapedthatwhen the insulating material of fiber herein described issuperimposed on the insulating material described in Figure 2. the holes2, 3, 4 and 5 in Figure 1 will coincide with similar holes 20, 2|, 22,23 described in Figure 2' and the cut-outs 6 and 1 herein described willbe over the cut-outs 21 and 28 described in Figure 2. v

In Figure 2, the insulating material, for example fiber, 26, is stampedor punched in such a manner as to provide the holes 20, 2|, 22, and 23and the cut-outs 21 and 28, and 28 and 88. These cut-outs and holes areso shaped that when the insulating'material or fiber described in FigureI is superimposed thereon, the holes 20, 2|, 22 and 23 described hereinwill coincide with similar holes described in Figure 1 and the-cutouts2land 28in Figure 2 will be directly beneath similar cut-outs described inFigure 1. Cut-outs 29 and 30 are so inserted as toprovide outlets forconnection purposes for the pigtails they are inserted so as to assumethe positions It and 5 and when rotated in a clock-wise manner, theywill exert a pressure on the resilient wires l2 and I 3 and pass intothe locking positions I6 and I1,, A large contact surface, a desirablefeature in a device of this nature, is secured by-reason of the factthat a firm contact is nade on twosides of each switch contactpoint.

Figure 3 is a view of the top layerof insulating material or fiber, 3|,in which the holes 32, 33, 34, and 35 are so located as to coincide withsimilar holes described in Figures 1 and 2 when the layer in Figure 3 issuperimposed on the layers described in Figures 1 and 2. The cut-out,36, is located in a position where it will be directly over the cut-outs6 and I and 21 and 28 in Figures 1 and '2 respectively and is of asizeadequate to receive therein the base of the electrical device. Thusthis cut-out provides for the centering of the base of an electricaldevice so that its rotating axis .is concentric with the fibers, thuscausing both contacts on the base of the electrical device to enter bothsocket contacts at the same time.

Figure 5 is aview-of the bottom layer of insulating material or fiber,in which the holes 31, 38, 39 and are so inserted as to coincide withsimilar holes described in Figures 1, 2, and 3 when the layers describedin said figures are superimposed on the layer 4| in Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a side view of the socket in its finished form, 1. e., afterthe four layers of insulating material shown in the accompanying drawinghave been superimposed on each other in the manner above described. Thepigtails l0 and 2 -a,2o 1,17o

l I are shown in their extension from the middle pair of resilientcontactwlres set in the cut-outs oi the layers of insulating material.of the third lamination, a pair of pigtails ex- Screws are inserted inthe holes I and 5 and tending from said contact wires and a bottomcorresponding holes described in the above iiglamination acting as abase plate, ures, as a means of securing the socket in a fixed 5 2. Thecombination of claim 1 in which the position. Eyelets or rivets 42 maybe inserted contour of the contact wires is such that it prothrough theholes 2 and 3 and corresponding vldes two distinct contact smiacm foreach conholes as described in the above figures as a means tact pin.

of fastening together the four layers of insulat- 3. A socket for anelectrical device having a ing material. 10 base with two contact pinsextending thereirom, WhatI claim is: said socket comprising: at leastthree joined 1. A socket for an electrical device having a laminationsof insulating material, one laminabase with two contact pins extendingtherefrom, tion having two elongated arcuate cut-outs said socketcomprising four joined laminations therein for the insertion androtation thereof insulating material, the top-lamination hav- 15 throughof the contact pins 01 the electrical ing a cut-out therein for theinsertion theredevice; another lamination having two elongated throughof the base of the electrical device, the arcuate cut-outs therein inregister with the v second lamination having two elongated arcut-outs inthe first mentioned lamination; a

cuate cut-outstherein for the insertion and ropair of resilient contactsset in the cut-outs of tation therethrough of the contact pins of the 29the last-mentioned laminatio a pair of pigelectrical device, the thirdlamination having two tails extending irom said contacts, and a bottomelongated arcuate cut-outs therein in register lamination acting as abase plate.

with the cut-outs in the second lamination, a CHARLES F. MacCARTHY..

